226 of 248 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not For Everyone, May 29, 2009
This review is from: Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories (Paperback)
Before I purchased this book, I was so excited from all the reviews, only come to find out that 90% of the recipes in the book call for some sugar substitute of some kind, which gives me headaches. So if you are thinking of buying this book but don't enjoy artificial sweeteners, DON'T BUY IT. But, if you don't mind them, go for it.
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72 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Ideas, if you know what HG is all about..., April 23, 2009
This review is from: Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories (Paperback)
I had the first book and, although I don't make many of the recipes, thought it was worth buying book 2. Most of the people who give her books bad reviews complain about the processed foods and lack of nutrition. She never claims that it is a nutrition book, she clearly states that she is just making the best food she can for the fewest calories. If you want to add nutrition, add a side of baby spinach with a splash of apple cider vinegar, like a side salad, with only 10 cals, or something along those lines, and you're fine. Take this book for what it is, an idea book, with a few "recipes". Change the fat free cheese for regular, just use half as much, use light milk instead of soy (it only a few calories differece, anyway) Just figure out what is worth spending the few extra calories on, and modify, for pete's sake. Use common sense if you don't want to use all the "fake" stuff.
There are a few great recipes that my whole family loves. There is a "hot pocket" style sandwich using low carb wraps and of course, laughing cow cheese, and its warmed in a pan with PAM. I've used this style with lean hamburger (my substitution)and pickles; pizza sauce with the turkey pepperoni she reccommends; and eggs with spinach, with a sprinkle of real cheese. This may not be the healthiest lunch around, but its a heck of a lot better than fast food, or frozen kids entrees, and just as quick to make, and, even with my "non- fake" substitions, around 200 calories. I make a lot of the cupcakes as-is from the book, and my kids love those, too. There is a "mousse" with FF cool whip and peanut butter that has enough PB to satisfy my craving for it, with less than half the fat and calories.
So, I find this to be like many of the other cookbooks I own. I use some of the recipes, some I don't, and some come out just plain gross. That is the way life is. I don't think you will find a book of recipes that everyone will like with ingredients that everyone likes, and theat they will like every recipe in the book from start to finish. That being said, if you want quick ideas for low calorie lunches and snacks, and aren't afraid to sub every once in a while to add a little more flavor (and maybe add a few calories, big deal) then you will love the ideas this book will give you. It's worth it
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160 of 182 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not for the extreme health nut, June 3, 2009
This review is from: Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200: 200 Recipes Under 200 Calories (Paperback)
I'm not a big fan of the Hungry girl recipes but there are a few I do like. The cheese sticks and peanut butter cups are really great! The main problem I see with this book is that it doesn't offer low-calorie HEALTHY recipes with NATURAL ingredients. Instead, most of the ingredients are artificial and more importantly, filled with TRANS FAT! I'd rather eat high calorie foods filled with good fats and gain a few then eat lower calorie trans fat filled food and get heart disease.
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